Best Walks: Best Way to Walking & Wellness (in 2023)

Walking might seem like the ultimate mundane activity. But embrace walking as a hobby and a form of exercise and you might just find the best walks are the best way to walking and wellness (in 2023).

Let’s face facts: it’s a stressful world out there. You've hear that walking is a good place to start towards wellness, but you don’t have a clue how to source the best walks or how to achieve the best way to walking & wellness in 2023.

Well, here’s my story, in case it helps.

During Lockdown I got very anxious, and I was a bit overweight. I had been a marathon runner (best time 3 hours 42 minutes) in my thirties, but now I was fifteen years older and heavier than I should be. I didn’t want to damage my knees running, and resolved that I wouldn’t jog again until I had lost a bit of weight.

My mind turned again to walking and hiking. I had been a very keen hiker in my youth, visiting such far-flung places with Exodus Adventures as Concordia in North Eastern Pakistan where we trekked to K2 base camp. The Annapurna range in Nepal, the HuayHaush mountain range in Peru, Himachal Pradesh in North India, and the High Atlas mountains in Morocco were all equally in my bag of experiences.

But then I had been very fit. Now I was a slob. So I determined to walk for an hour and a half every day to get fitter and lose 10 kilos before indulging in running again.

I invested in a good pair of Best Scarpa hiking boots to cushion the impact on my knees (essential since I was overweight) and planned a route.

I also invested in a robust Best backpack in anticipation that one day I would take to the trekking and hiking trails again.

But I know what you’re thinking. You don’t know how to start walking for exercise. You need some guidance about what to do and how to plan your route.

Here’s how I did it…

Local walks from your home to initiate wellness

Start off by walking for an hour in an environment around your home.

You might think that is terribly unadventurous, but it’s amazing what you can experience if you go out for a walk and keep your eyes open. You will meet neighbours, you will befriend shop owners and security guards and post-people. For further reflections on how important and pleasant it is to go for a walk every day, please see my article 5 Reasons to go for a Walk Every Day.

The walk will give you time to meditate and to consider the ever-changing colours of the trees, bushes and flowers throughout the seasons. You might even, as I did, fall in love with a tree.

Walking from home is excellent exercise, stimulating and relaxing for the mind in equal measure, and integrates you into the local community.

Longer walks from your home to promote wellness

Eventually you will realise that you have got fitter, while at the same time you feel you need a more expansive and adventurous walk.

Now’s the time to do some research and plan a whole morning or afternoon walk. In London, where I live, there are plenty of spacious parks such as Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and there are various marked routes such as the Capital Ring.

Equally, you could take the train to somewhere a little more out in the countryside such as the South Downs.

When you go on these longer walks, make sure you wear a good pair of hiking boots (see above) and a waterproof day sack. Bring plenty of water and something to snack on (or even a packed lunch).

Best walks in the Lake District for wellness

Once you have successfully tackled some more demanding day walks within striking distance from home, it is time to consider packing your rucksack (see above) and heading for the Lake District.

You should aim to stay there for a long weekend and to go for at least two walks.

There are plenty of beautiful walking routes in the Lakes, and you could do worse than invest in WAINWRIGHT’S GUIDES. Wainwright’s Guides comprise of a series of beautifully printed and illustrated books setting out just about every walk in the Lake District (amongst other places) that you could possibly imagine. Apart from their practicality as far as discerning walking routes are concerned, they are also magnificently produced and a delight to read.

Imagine reading Wainwright with a hot coffee or a pint of beer by a roaring fire in a cozy Lake District pub after a satisfying walking day when you have accomplished your objective.

It’s no wonder walking is good for wellness.

Foreign trekking towards wellness

Finally, you can dream about taking a trip in the footsteps of Michael Palin and go on a week-long or two-week trek in the Himalaya, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, or any other number of exciting and inspiring places.

It’s safest to go on a package expedition to one of these places, and my favourite is EXODUS TRAVELS. I have been on four or five treks with them, and they have never let me down.

You need to make sure you pack comprehensively for a package trekking adventure, and Exodus usually issues you with a kit list, which you should adhere to.

I will describe one or two of my package trekking adventures with EXODUS, and how I prepared for them, in subsequent articles.

Treks are typically graded in difficulty, and you should be sure only to attempt one with which you feel comfortable. If you’re out in the back of beyond and change your mind because you can’t cope, then a difficult situation will arise, to say the least.

Take aways towards wellness

So, apart from the good it does for wellness in itself, taking up walking can lead to magnificent adventure and sparkling fitness.

Amongst other things, you get to know your local area and your neighbours, you get to know the beauty spots within striking distance of your home, you get to spend long weekends in the Lake District and other beautiful, fulfilling places, and you potentially get to travel the world like Michael Palin.

Finally, taking up walking is a gateway to taking up jogging (I will deal with that in another article). Perhaps, though, walking and trekking will be enough for you, and who can blame you?

Finding the best walks might well be the best way to walking and wellness (in 2023) - less stress on the knee and hip joints after all...